main street magazine issue 12

7/28/2019 Main Street Magazine Issue 12

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Issue 12 Vol. 2


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June 21, 2013 Issue 12 Volume 2

CITY CL ICKS9 FILM & TV

Whats the scoop onindependent icks? Whilesome people might thinkthey are outthere or artsy,theres an independentmovie or everyone,and Jen provides hersuggestions.

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SPORTS TALKChris swoops in on aeatured ootball playerrom both Norman Highand Norman North to givereaders a glimpse o theupcoming season, and hedescribes the greatness oSooner sotball.

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SUMMER SERIESDuring the summer,people have time to slowdown - which means youcan go out and get aleisurely breakast! Hereare breakast options nearand ar, and many ideasto enjoy the great outdoorsduring the long summer.days.

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CRUISING MAINI hope everyone has had a good start to their summer! Ive been able to enjoy some pooltime inbetween running the magazine and packing to move across Norman. The Fourth

o July is coming up, and I am defnitely looking orward to some freworks, BBQ, andoutdoor adventures. I you dont have any plans or the ourth, check out our SummerSeries. Nothing says Murica like going camping!

Until next time, xoxo,

EdITOR-IN-ChIEF Kelli SmithGENERAL MANAGER Kelli Smith

ART dIRECTORKelli Smith

COPY EdITORAshley Roy

PhOTOGRAPhYMark Doescher

Carey Flack

CONTRIbUTORSJordan AtteburyJen HermannChris Joseph

Jocelyn PedersenShelby SimpsonLacey Swope

GRAPhIC dESIGNKelli Smith

Nichole Anderson

AdVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES

Joe Wilhite

PUbLIShERJoe Wilhite

Main Street MagazineP.O. Box 721494

Norman, Oklahoma 73070

Copyright Main Street Magazine

Phone: (405) 321-2400E-mail: [email protected]

Any articles, artwork or graphicscreated by Main Street Magazineor its contributors are sole property oMain Street Magazine and cannotbe reproduced or any reason withoutpermission. Any opinions expressed in

Main Street are not necessarily that oMain Street management.

SOCIAL MEdIA

Kelli SmithEditor-in-Chie

MAINSTREET MAGAZINE

MAIN ATTRACTIONUnique Conections hasa wide variety o sinulsweets to tickle anyonesancy, rom raspberryto bacon - yes, bacon- trues. With a well-trained treat afcionado,its no shock everything ismouth watering!

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As the great Luke Bryan once sa id, Rain is a good thang!Ater three years o relentless drought, our spring rains have brought much nCentral Oklahoma. For the time being, Norman is drought ree!Now that over 8.5 inches o high-quality H2O has allen over Sooner Countactual ponds again instead o mud-puddles. Thunderbird is back to a lake aga watering hole in the desert. Im sure you remember that the beautiul crimswas over 7.5 eet below normal back in January. The water level is actually all-time record high. Now the lake is two eet above normal, a nd more red t

outstanding news!I would, however, like to caution you rom thinking the drought is gone or gdont go hosting daily sprinkler parties or the neighborhood kiddos. We areour typical wet season in Oklahoma and transitioning into the dry/hot seasousually lucky i we can wring out a ew inches o rain rom July through SeptThats just how summer in Oklahoma goes. Its still too early to tell i this yeaexception.So let the past be your guide and continue to conserve water. I youre dyingwater, just head on down Alameda Street to the ull Lake Thunderbird! Dontdark colors, or youll be let with a newly redesigned Oklahoma-red bikini. Sexperience, you cant Shout that stu out!

Lacey Swope Te Swope

GREATOUTDOORS

BREAKFAST

THE

LOCAL SPORTS8


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This is a sugary tale o a man obsessed with the sweet lie.

Andrew Marsh is a not a butcher or a candlestick maker, but a baker. He indulges unabashedly in a proound love aair withsweets. We should all thank him or his compulsion because we are the lucky benefciaries o his culinary expertise.

Andrews dedication to this candy-coated liest yle started early. From Oklahoma, to France, t o New York and under the wing oan elite South-Arican che, he has been mentored into a master o the divine world o desserts. His talent and adoration or allthings luscious is reected in the mouth-watering morsels that line his display cases. Today, glossy cinnamon suckers top o shelveslayered in chocolate surprises. The suckers are in the shape o Darth Vader. This place is unreal.

The kitchen besotted me. My mom used to fnd me making her coee, and thats not normal or a our-year old but it was naturalor me. I lived in Grenoble, France or a little over a year when I was 18, and it just so happened that my host mother owned atiny bakery. I helped her e very day. Wed speak French while rolling, kneading, melting and caramelizing amaz ing baked goods.That was the beginning.

Sitting across rom him now, he hands me a lavender true sparkling with the palest o purple sugar. I take a small bite, and asilky, chocolate wave spills onto my taste buds. I a garden were sprinkled with cocoa rain, the owers gently kissed by the smoothmahogany, this would be the result. Its aromatic and decadent. I realize Im in the caring hands o a kitchen genius.

Its obvious Andrew pampers his products at Unique Conections. Each ingredient is scrutinized or months. Every turn o the beateris measured. His imagination takes lie in the orm o treats that can do nothing but satiate your pallet. They have no choice.

He loads a git bag or me ull o chewy, chunky, nutty and ruity delights. Ive pointed to a small bag stued with hard watermeloncandy dusted in powdered sugar. He smiles, adding it to my treasures along with spicy peanut brittle and crystalized candiedoranges dipped in dark chocolate. The ollowing trues are delicately lowered in last:

Pineapple CurryCayenneRaspberry

Cashew NutandBacon Three Ways

You heard right. Bacon has been incorporated three ways into this bite-sized piece o magic. Andrew rendered the bacon at,using it instead o butter to whip the chocolate flling into creamy perection. Next, he added chopped bacon bits, providing acrunch that explodes in your mouth as the ultimate salty accompaniment. Last, he ground the savory bacon strips into bacon dust.Yes, bacon dust. Thats not only the kind o dust you wish you had around the house, but its also the heaven-sent topping to thisunbelievable dessert.

Unique Conections is only a year old. Its still a bit o an undiscovered paradise, and my eyes remain glazed over rom theantastic selection o original baked goodies Andrew has concocted. Although words can describe the colorul world o UniqueConections, only smells and tastes can do it justice. This is an aternoon destination that promises giant smiles and happy bellies.

Can we pretty please go to Unique Conections?

Signed,

Your Sweet Tooth

Shelby Simpson

Bonbon Bucket List

Main Attraction

candy chocolates coffee teas judaica kosher gourmet gifts Our 6th year!Norman Farm Mark

Cleveland County Fairgrounds615 E Robinson

Wednesday and Saturday, April thru O8am to Noon

Come join the conversationat Norman's "Town Square

It's not just about vegetab

Now2Location710 W. Main & Norman Farm Ma

710 W. Main Norman, OK 73069

405.310.4727

Next Door South to Old School Bagel Cafe

Store Hours: 8:00am - 8:00pm, Monday - Saturday10:00 am - 4:00pm, Sunday


5/98

Full Moon Sushi

Happy Hour 3-6$2 Pitchers of Sake

Daily Sushi Roll Specials$1.75 Domestic Beer

$2 Salmon Nigiri

Check out our daily lunch and dinner specials!Catering for game day or parties!

326 E Main St | Norman, OK(405) 701-1800

City ClicMcNellliesFull Moon Susibison Witces

Te Garage Tres Cantina Otellos

As with the team on the other side o the town, I will be givingyou a preview o a specifc player o the Norman High Tigerootball team during the summer to give the Tiger Nation aglimpse into this years Tigers. They look to build on their frstplayo win under head coach Greg Nation.

Last year it was a very run-oriented oense or the Tigers and

or good reason! The Tigers amassed nearly 3,500 yardsrushing with three players and 39 touchdowns rom that tr io aswell.

Imond Robinson led the team with his 1,448 yards on theground and 14 rushing touchdowns. The quarterback andcerebral leader o the Tigers was Zach Long, the three-yearstarter under center gained 958 yards rushing and had 12rushing touchdowns. The third leg o the ground-attackingtripod was Aerion Hines, who added 937 yards rushing and13 touchdowns.

So to say that the Tigers were run happy is kind o anunderstatement. Long did not put the ball up in the air manytimes, and or good reason with the success that they ran theball at ease and controlled the clock.

When the Tigers decided to put the ba ll in the air, the maintarget or Long was Jakcob Dean, and Dean is my spotlightplayer.

Jakcob is a 60, 180-pound senior wide receiver who totaled36 receptions or 519 yards and seven receiving touchdownslast year or an average o 18.5 yards a catch.

What made Dean so special was the act that he was prettymuch the only deep threat that the Tigers had all year. Deanhad a couple o touchdowns in the Crosstown Clash andcontinued to make spectacular plays every week when hisnumber was called.

Dean threw one pass last year or 22 yards, and duringsummer practice I saw Dean take snaps under center. I dontknow i there is any plan or Dean to be the signal caller thisyear or the Tigers, but I will say or the Tigers to have anysuccess this ootball season, they need Dean on the feld andhave to fnd a way to get the ball in his hands and let theyoung man go to work and do what he does best.

The Tigers have had the leadership o Long to rely on the lastour years, and this year, i the orange and black is looking orleadership, I eel they can fnd it in Jakcob Dean. The spotlightis well deserved or this highlight reel player rom NormanHigh.

The school year is over and we look ahead to the nextschool season or the start o another high school sportsseason. This summer I will ocus on a player rom theTimberwolves ootball team to give the readers an insightto the upcoming year or the Timberwolves.

We start the Timberwolves spotlight on a player who has

had more ocus on him or issues o the feld instead owhat he had done on the feld. Senior David Cornwell,who transerred rom Jones High to Norman North l astwinter, had made not only local but national news with hisappeal hearing or his eligibility in the upcoming ootballseason.

Now when I say o the fel d issues, it was not an issueo someone doing something wrong, but a young man andhis amily just wanting to play ootball his senior year. Ispoke to David on my show, and he expressed his surpriseat how the OSSAA reacted and ruled that he was noteligible or his senior year at Norman North.

What brought up the concern or the OSSAA was the actthat in his sophomore year in 2011 in Florida, Davidsmother became very sick and no one knew what wasgoing on. David did not attend that fr st semester o hissophomore year due to his mothers sickness and washomeschooled. The OSSAA was concerned about his

making academic progress, and that was the big stickingpoint as to why they were ruling that Cornwell could notplay.

When David and his amily appeared beore the OSSAA,they did something many amilies who are appealinga denial or a hardship waiver: They had a ton o newinormation and documentation to present the OSSAA.The meeting was tabled early in the hearing, and a lot oTimberwolves were wondering i that was a good or badsign.

Early Friday aternoon on June 7, David received a callletting him know that the OSSAA had reversed theirdecision, and now one o the most sought ater high schoolplayers in the country will be able to suit up or his team.

Replacing all-state quarterback Peytin Gavaras and hisrecord-setting season o a year ago was going to be hardto replace; however, with Cornwell at the helm o theTimberwolves oense, it will be an easier job than puttingan untested player under the helm at the Crosstown Clash.

Chris Joseph

Tigers Spotlight Timberwolves Spotlight

Local Sports


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What will you be doing on the Fourth o July? Watching the freworks over Norman withyour amily? Grilling out with your riends? Or just trying to escape the heat?

Being independent means a lot or the United States, especially at this time o the year.But it also means a lot or the flm industry.

Indie flms are independent flms, or flms that are not directed, produced or distributedthrough the major flm studios o the industry. Although the major flm studios have changedover time, most movies have typically come rom one o fve or six s tudios.

Independent flms usually come to popularity i they do through flm estivals that callattention to the piece among the flm community. Word then spreads. I the flm does not yethave a distributor, then sometimes it is picked up by a major studio at the estival.

Indie flms carry connotations with them. Artistic, singular, low-budget, no-name sometimes these words come to mind with the flms. Most major directors, though, have atone point or another worked on an indie flm, and many continue to work on independentflms even ater achieving ame. Although generally indie flms carry the stamp o theirdirector and, since theyre not backed by big money,have a lower budget than big blockbusters, the indiegenre is enormous and covers all genres. Theres noreason that you cant fnd an indie flm youd like! So tocelebrate Independence Day this year, here are a ewselections to choose rom. But dont let me tell you whatto do go indie and make your own choice.

Sunsine Cleaning

What could be moreunusual than AmyAdams and EmilyBlunt cleaning upbiohazards? Not much.The pair star as sisters,the more reliableo whom starts thebusiness to pay or hersons school tuition.

MementoBeing bent on revengeis hard enough i youdont have short-termmemory loss. This flmollows the protagonist,Leonard, in both

orward and reverse time as he attempts to fnd hiswies murderer. The audience is drawn into the mysteryalongside him, ollowing the ragility and manipulation

o his memory.Reservoir dogsThats right, just because youve heard o it doesnt meanits not an independent flm. Quentin Tarantino directedthis flm, one o the best-known and highest-grossingindependents. The movie looks at the characters involvedin a botched robbery, jumping between the eventsbeore and ater the heist in an attempt to patch togetherwhat went wrong.

Jen Hermann

Independents DayIndie Films for the Fourth

Film & TV

Monsters UniversityJune 21

MikeWazowskiand JamesSulleySullivancross pathsat MonstersUniversity inthe elite ScareProgram,

wheremonsterslearn to scarechildren in

order to harness the energy o theirscreams. Mikes ambition clasheswith Sulleys natural talent, and thetwo enter into a competition thatgets them kicked out so that theyhave to resolve their dierences.

White House DownJune 28

ChanningTatum isJohn Cale, aCapitol Hillpolicemanwho dreamso protectingthe president.

When hedoesnt makethe cut, hetakes hisdaughter ona tour o the

White House to break the newsgently to her. While there, though,the White House comes underattack, and Cale gets his dreamand more.

The Lone RangerJuly 3

This is a newtwist on theclassic taleo a lawman-turned-renegade.John Reid,

playedby ArmieHammer,meets up withthe NativeAmericanTonto,

played by Johnny Depp. The twojoin together to fght the injusticesthat rise rom the surace o theAmerican West.

Movie Reviews


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57 9- 5 60 0 MISALOFINDIA.COM

Take a trip to India...

...for the price of a meal!

580 Ed Noble Parkway // Norman, OK 73072

Across from Barnes & Noble

Open 7 days a week

Full Bar

Lunch Buffet: 11a-3p

Dinner: 5p-10p

It was Oklahoma sotball acing another SEC opponent at ASA Hall o Fame Stadium or theright to be crowned as the NCAA champions o ast-pitch sotball. Last year the Sooners sawAlabama celebrate the national championship in ront o them.This year the Tennessee Lady Vols stood in the way o the ultimate goal or the Sooners.

The Sooners made their way through the Womens College World Series Tournamentoutscoring their opposition 91-16, winning their fnal 13 games o the season, making theirfnal mark o 57-4, giving them a .934 winning percentage and thus ranking them fth in thehistory o the game.

The Sooners downed the Lady Vols in a two-game sweep o the championship series. Thefrst game was an all-time classic with Keilani Ricketts and Ellen Renroe going toe-to-toe or12 innings. The Lady Vols struck frst with a three run homeruns in the 11th inning, but thisnever say die team that can generate runs at an amazing pace tied the game at 3-3 in thebottom o the 11th. This spelled trouble or the Lady Vols since the Sooners were at that time52-0 when scoring three runs or more.

The end o game one was a surprise to Sooner ans and Lady Vols ans due to the act that the Lady Vols chose to pitch to the hard-hittingSophomore Lauren Chamberlain, who promptly deposited the ball over the let feld ence or the walk o victory in the 12th inning.

Game two was the next night, and the entire country wondered i Ricketts would be back in the circle ater her 188-pitch evening the nightbeore. The good thing or the Sooners is that the Sooner given the assignment led the country in earned run average. The Senior MichelleGascoigne saved her best perormance or last as she struck out 12 Lady Vols and only gave up three singles and waling none. This wasthe moment or Gascoigne because she would be the number one at any other program. The team and the coaches trusted her and theteam trusted her, and Gascoigne delivered. Gascoigne led the country with a .88 era and fnished her Sooner career on the bottom o thedog pile celebrating the national championship that she just helped secure.

When you look back at the history o the game o womens college sotball, the 1994 Arizona team is brought up a lot as possibly thebest team ever. Now this Sooner team is in the same talk, i not the leader o the pack.

When you look rom the top to bottom o this team, the act that they led the country in era at 1.16 and also led the country in battingaverage at .334, they became the frst team in division one history to lead the country in both categories. They also outscored theiropponents by 402 runs this year; the next closest team was Tennessee, with a dierential o 297 runs.

From Ricketts to Gascoigne, Jessica Shults to Lauren Chamberlain, Shelby Pendley to Georgia Casey, this team is one or the ages, andthey brought Coach Gasso her frst title since 2000 and her second overall. When people look back at the level this team perormed atwith the level o competition they played, it makes them the bes t ever. No disrespect to the teams in the past, but the level o play hasdefnitely risen since some o the greats have played the game that being said, Boomer Sooner!

Chris Joseph

Simply the Best ... Ever?

Sports Talk

You can ollow Chris Joseph on ...

@chrisjoseph1400And listen to his show 360 Sports onSports Talk 1400 rom 5-7 P.M. Mon-

day through Friday.

>> Photos by Mark Doescher


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Breakfast Near MainBreakast at Tianys serves pancakes as big as a plate and biscuits the size o sotballs; its no wonder this small, amily-rua local avorite. Besides the ood, the owners and wait sta treat customers like amily and yuk it up with the regulars.

Located a ew short miles south o Norman on the corner o Chestnut and Main Streets in Noble, Tianys serves up breakMonday through Friday rom 6 AM to 1:45 PM and breakast only on Saturdays and Sundays rom 6 AM to 11:45 AM.

Brothers Donnie and Gary Hicks run the restaurant owned by their mother, Phyllis Fulcher, who, prior to opening Tianys, the restaurant business or many years. When Fulcher retired in 2009, her sons and a ew s ta members have continued hoering a quality product at a reas onable price.

But its more than just ood theres un to be had at Tianys. Gary, who runs the dining room, says tongue-in-cheek that hbe called a sales a cilitator. Without missing a beat, brother Donnie maintains that since he runs the kitchen, he preers todirector o nutrition.

With a twinkle in his eye, Gary said, Bring a sense o humor with you or come happy and leave hungry, then on a serioMy amily devotes passion to this place. We carry our jobs home with us.

That passion and commitment are obvious. Waiting or a table on the weekend is worth it because the ood is a gastronomo epic proportions. Even ESPN has eatured Tianys, and Donnie says people have come rom out-o-state because o it. Pauls Valley, Edmond, Newcastle, Blanchard, Purcell, Norman, Sapulpa and Grand Lake have visited Tianys, and thatsthe Hicks brothers.

I love it, Donnie said while ipping a apjack. I hope they keep comin in.

And when the people come, the sta gets hoppin. Donnie makes homemade biscuits and hand-dips Frisbee-sized chicken ast as he can. As soon as an order is up, the wait sta carries plates sta cked along their arms to tables flled with custome

You see, in here when were busy, these people who work with me are rock stars, Gary says. I challenge you to fnd anwho can do what they do. The waiters make me eel special.

But its obviously a mutual eeling because theres not a lot o turnover with the s ta. Waiter Jordan Wiggins, or instance, Tianys since a ew months ater the restaurant opened over 10 years ago. And the kind o respect the Hicks brothers havemployees is extended to their customers as well.

Ken Praytor is a regular. He says he and his wie come to the restaurant at least once a week on a Saturday or Sunday. IPraytor says. Weve done it at least our or fve years now. We love the people. Its a good atmosphere, riendly. They tregood.

And hes not just talking about customers. The Hicks amily gives back to their community through undraisers or the schooSolomon, regular customer, says he eats at the restaurant multiple times per week. I work in the school and theyre alwayood to help out the schools whenever they can. Its good to give back to them whenever I can.

But the giving back is never touted. Humble to theircore, the Hicks brothers dont talk about what they door their community. The telling comes rom others.

There was a little old couple who came in every dayand it got to where they were too old to come. Theseguys took ood to them and didnt charge them,Praytor, who is a director o nursing homes, said.When one o them died, they took ood to the other.They did it because they were good customers andthese are good people. I always respected them or

doing that.In keeping with their philosophy o giving backand having un, Gary and Donnie are oering theollowing deal or those who want to participate: ameal to those who send a handwritten quote romBreakast at Tianys to Tianys, PO Box 764,Noble, OK 73068.

Great ood and good un await those who visitTianys, where the Hicks amily eeds not just thebody, but the soul.

Hasslers Restaurant, located at 333 S. Porter Ave., ser ves up breakast and lunch daily. Patrons canpartake o pancakes, omelets or biscuits and gravy as well as traditional breakast dishes such as eggsand sausage. Meatloa is popular or lunch, and everything is handmade daily in the kitchen.

Dori Delaney, waitress, has been at Hasslers or our years now. She says her avorite dish is the heavenlyhash browns made with potatoes, green peppers, onions and sausage, served up with eggs, biscuits andgravy or toast.

It just tastes so good, Delaney sa id. I like all the ood here. The meatloa is very goodour dishwasherand prep-cook makes it.

Normanite Elise Miller goes to school out o state but comes to Hasslers occasionally when shes home.She ordered the French toast, which she described as nice and gooey and delicious. You have to let thesyrup soak in. Its like American bread pudding, she said with a grin.

Millers boyriend, Ryan Magley, said he ound the sta to be really nice. The sentiment seems to goboth ways, because Delaney said, Our customers are great. We love them all.

Zane Compton, who requents Hasslers once or twice a week, says he likes the three-meat breakastskillet with ham, bacon or sausage in any combination, and since hes a smoker, he preers thedesignated smoking room. Besides, as a regular, he knows the sta.

Ive gotten to know all the wait sta and the owner since I go in there so much. Its more o a amilyeeling, Compton said.

Hasslers is open Monday through Friday rom 6:30 AM to 2:30 PM and Saturdays and Sunday rom 2-7

PM. For more inormation, visit Hasslers or call 405-360-6722.

Jocelyn Pedersen Jocelyn PedersenIn Norman On a Tank Full

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Breakfast at Ti

Elise Miller, let, and Ryan Maley, load up on breakast at Hasslerson Porter, just o Main, in Norman. Photo by Jocelyn Pedersen


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Norman may be considered part o the Oklahoma City metro area, but that doesnt mean that it comeswith any shortage o outdoor activities. In act, Norman is home to one o the areas best-kept secrets:Lake Thunderbird State Park. While many people are aware o the lake, they may not know very muchabout all the other outdoor recreational activities the area has to oer.Nestled in the rolling, oak-covered hillso east Norman, Lake Thunderbird oers86 miles o shoreline ranging rompeaceul niches where you can throwout a line to the inamous party covewhere tons o boats come together, blastmusic and throw back some cold beer.Calypso Cove Marina, located right onthe lake, oers canoe and paddleboatrentals. The canoes can ft two peoplecomortably, and all liejackets andpaddles are included with the rental. Thepaddleboats can ft our people, andall saety equipment is also provided.A two-hour canoe rental is $20, all-dayrental is $30 and paddleboats are $5per person per hour. Gather up someriends and head out to paddle acrossthe lake or the ultimate relaxing day.

I water sports arent your thing, check out the amazing Thunderbird Riding Stables where you can go ona guided trail ride through some o the areas 500 acres o lush wooded trails, wide open pas tures andadjacent lakeside paths. I youre lucky, youll be able to spot some o the areas plentiul wildlie whileyou take a peaceul lap around the turtle pond, where birds ock or a quick drink. Reservations arerequired, and each one-hour ride costs $25. Call 405-321-5728 or more inormation.

Over at the Clear Bay Recreation Area Trail System, which is also part o Lake Thunderbird State Park,visitors will fnd nearly 20 miles o hiking and mountain biking trails. Located on the south side o LakeThunderbird, the trail system oers fve interconnecting trails so you can mix-and-match to suit your skilllevel and distance. The green, yellow and red loops are each under two miles, while the blue loop isnearly fve miles and the gold loop oers 10 miles that are best let to the experts. Lace up your hikingboots and reconnect with nature on the well-marked trails. The bes t part? Its ree!

Another activity that wont break the bank is picnicking. Grab a big ole pie rom New York Pizza or ato-go container o wings rom OConnells and head out to dine lakeside. Spread a blanket a long the

shoreline or snag a picnic table under matureshade trees in the park and enjoy a day in thegreat outdoors. Another option or lakesidedining is Calypso Cove Marinas restaurant,which oers indoor and outdoor dining.You can even pull up your boat right up tothe dock, tie it o and enjoy a meal on theoutdoor patio underneath light misters.

So, whether youre looking or water sports,horseback riding, hiking or mountain biking,look no urther than Lake Thunderbird StatePark! For more inormation, visit www.TravelOK.com/ThunderbirdSP

Photos from TravelOK.com

The state o Oklahoma is sodiverse. In act, Oklahoma isonly one o our states withmore than 10 ecoregions,which means that a short drivein any direction is likely to landyou with some pretty amazingscenery.

In the west, youll encounterrolling sand dunes, ruggedbuttes and sweeping vistas,while south-central Oklahomagreets visitors with ice coldnatural springs and one o thestates two 77-oot wateralls.Northeast Oklahoma is fttingly

known as Green Country, and southeast Oklahoma has some o the states most scenic drivesas well as its only cypress swamplands.

Just 90 miles southwest o Norman is the Wichita Mountains Wildlie Reuge near Lawton.Categorized in the central great plains region o Oklahoma, this area is ripe with prairie land,though the reuge also boasts some amazing mountain views. Begin your trip with a s top atthe Wichita Mountains Wildlie Reuge Visitors Center to learn about the areas history andhabitat, or drive right through the reuges main road to see or yoursel.

Though there are more than 59,000 acres or the wildlie to roam, chances are good that youll spot some o the 650 reeAmerican Bison (a.k.a. bualo). Theyre even known to cross the road right in ront o your car, so watch out! Elk, longhorturkey, river otters, burrowing owls, deer, numerous birds and a whole village dedicated to adorable prairie dogs also calhome. Youll be able to pull into a small parking lot and get within 10 eet o ree -roaming prairie dogs, so bring along a c

I youre into hiking or photography, head over to Mount Scott. Standing 2,500 eet tall, you can wind your way up to the car or strap on some hiking boots and hit the trails. At the top, youll be treate d to unparalleled views o ridge ater ridge oMountains as well as Quanah Parker Lake.

The reuges extensive trail system has a variety o distances ranging rom the Quanah Parker Trail, which is less than hal Bison Trail, which comes in at just under six miles. One o the areas most well-known trails is called the Charons Garden runs or just under two-and-a-hal miles. Giant granite boulders per ect or rock hopping are located just one mile into the t

a massive boulder feld where youll spot Applboulders that resemble their namesake ruits.

One o the reuges most unusual areas is calleForest. Beore the area was designated as a rea orest area and red cedars were planted in pspaced precisely six eet apa rt. Today you canunusual area located between Mount RooseveWall.

The last stop in the reuge is the Holy City o th66-acre area is designed to portray Israel duriand eatures watch towers, walkways, numeroand gorgeous stone statues.

For more inormation, visit http://www.ws.gowichita_mountains/ or TravelOK.com.

Photos from TravelOK.com

Lake Thunderbird State Park Wichita Mountains Wildlife

Jordan Attebury Jordan AtteburyIn Norman On a Tank Full

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main street magazine issue 12

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